What makes something scary?

[RosieLemonade]

In the spirit of the season! What stops something like a doll for example not just a doll but a scary doll? Or a house?

In films its the music accompanying the scene or the slow pan the camera makes. In real life it depends on what I've recently read or watched, whether the house is quiet etc. I've got dogs so if the dogs are nonplussed, I'm fine. If thier heckles are up, I should worry.

Dunno what it was about Charlie and I but it terrified the bejesus out of me. Maybe it was the voice. Maybe the animation. Maybe the unspoken doom that awaited a child who foolishly went to see the puppies...

I've always said it's more about the eerie sound, music, silence and suspense. I've intentionally watched a few scary movies with no sound and found out they were less scary to me.

The visuals too, when unexpected but the sound adds to the experience, for me.

In films it has to have one foot in reality for me, so the first half of Sinister was terrifying. The second half went to shit of course

I don't think I've ever been spooked irl by things like a doll or a house. When I was a cleaner I had to do a few houses where the owner had died and it was being put on the market. Had some spooky goings on but just found them amusing coincidences rather than scary!